Afghanistan is expected to receive 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from India with the next ten days, and approval regarding this is awaited from the World Health Organization, reported TOLOnews.

The Afghan Ministry of Health on Tuesday said 500,000 vaccines will come from India as grant assistance to the country. The government targets to vaccinate 20 percent of its population within the next six months.

To help Afghanistan in tackling the pandemic, various international organizations are expected to provide $112 million to the country, the ministry informed. The country would receive most of the vaccines through COVAX facilities.

Last week on Tuesday, India announced its ‘VaccineMatri’ under which it provided millions of COVID-19 vaccines to its neighbors and allies under the grant assistance program. At the time, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said it was still waiting for regulatory approval from Afghanistan to dispatch its share of vaccines. 

Bangladesh, India’s eastern and the closest partner in the region, got the highest share of it, 2 million doses. Under the program, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, and Seychelles have been offered vaccines from India.